Gas explosion caused Akanimodo Market fire, LASEMA says
Agency reports no deaths or injuries and completed operations at Mile 12, where congestion initially restricted firefighters’ access.
A gas explosion in one of the structures at Akanimodo Market, Mile 12, triggered a fire that spread to adjoining structures, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
Nigeria Info reported on Thursday, November 5, that LASEMA had concluded emergency operations and recorded no deaths or injuries. The agency said firefighters had extinguished the blaze and completed checks for remaining hotspots.
An initial LASEMA account, reported by The Guardian on November 5, said the cause was still being assessed. The reported completion update attributed the fire to a gas explosion and said emergency operations had ended.
Congestion restricted access
The Guardian reported that the affected section contained structures used mainly by plastic recycling operators, with some also serving as workers’ accommodation.
According to the agency’s account, combustible building materials, including wooden planks, helped the flames spread. Traders and other residents made initial attempts to contain the fire before the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived.
Congestion and limited access initially made it difficult for the responding fire truck to reach the affected area. Firefighters later gained entry, while LASEMA coordinated the response with other agencies.
Extent of losses not independently verified
Nigeria Info’s account of the completion update said responders extinguished residual flames and checked the area for immediate fire hazards before returning to base. The agency also reported advising occupants on safe handling and storage of cooking gas.
The material reviewed did not provide a verified count of destroyed structures, displaced occupants or monetary losses. IDNN’s report draws on published accounts of LASEMA’s response; the site and original operational records have not been independently examined.
